Jamie George: 'You never want it to get to the point where strikes are on the cards'
Jamie George believes the RFU's communication with players will prevent them being in the same situation as Wales
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Jamie George believes that open communication between players and the RFU is key in ensuring the future of the game in England.
He said: “It’s glaringly obvious that the Premiership isn’t in a place that we want it to be in either. What’s amazing is that the RFU are really receptive to conversations being had. Last week I wasn’t able to attend the meeting but there was a conversation about that kind of thing with senior members of the RFU.”
“I think that the important thing is that firstly the RFU are open to those kind of conversations and that secondly, the players need to be involved in those conversations. We need to get the right people in the room. That was in the last week or so and those conversations will go on I’m sure.”
The bleak situation smothering English rugby of late is one which has been particularly felt by those involved with Worcester Warriors and Wasps.
George’s teammates in the starting 15 to face Wales on Saturday, Ollie Lawrence and Jack Willis, have both suffered the demise of their clubs this season.
This unprecedented collapse of the two English clubs has caused many to take a step back for a period of evaluation.
“I think the unfortunate situations with what happened with Wasps and Worcester probably have led to a bit of self-reflection across the board, from unions, from the RPA, places like that,” George said.
“Players are more forthcoming in wanting to put their views forward. The RFU in particular have been great in terms of wanting to know where the players’ thoughts are. If you can then come to a solution between the two then that’s the best way of going forward in my opinion,” he added.
The George family have strong links to the game with Jamie's father and uncle previously representing Northampton Saints as scrum half and hooker respectively. His father, Ian, also played for London Welsh.
Alongside the situation in the professional sphere, George is also conscious that the state of affairs in local clubs is often far from gleaming.
“A lot of my concerns are around the grassroots game. My uncle has coached for 30, 40 years. He’s a head coach at a club in Northampton. He’s concerned about that," he said pensively.
"I’m out of touch with the grassroots game, but I speak to my uncle all the time – he’s telling me he’s worried about participation numbers, how difficult it is to put out teams and this sort of thing. That is a worry, as it is the game that we love and we want it to reach as many people as we possibly can," he added.
The 74 times England-capped hooker is positive however that advocation from players at the top level can have a salient impact on grassroots rugby.
"At the same time if we get things right, in terms of what we spoke about before with getting the right people in the room, the right players speaking to the right people, we can come up with the right plan which turns the worry to excitement about where the game can go over the next 5, 10, 15, 20, however many years. It’s a game we love and want to reach as many boys and girls across the country as we can," he said with pride.
A situation where the last resort of players and unions butting heads and strike action being discussed is something that George is hopeful can be avoided if conversations between both parties remain fluid.
He said: “You never want it to get to the point where strikes are on the cards, because that means there’s confrontation, and it’s one side against the other. We want to try and work together. That’s the most important thing.
"We’ve got members of this team, Saracens, who are passionate about the game. I put my hand up and say I’m one of those people. They’ve got ideas about how they want to take the game forward, and how English rugby should be represented, and speaking to people like Bill Sweeney and Conor O’Shea at the RFU. Those conversations are important going forward.”
This weekend’s opponents Wales have shown their strength as a squad in recent weeks as they have fought for much-needed change.
George recalls when Saracens came together in a similar fashion following their relegation to the Championship and the clamour that subsequently submerged the club.
The way the squad united in the face of this is one of his most treasured rugby memories.
“I think back to the Racing game at home, we had just been officially relegated after all the rubbish that had gone on over the previous couple of months and it is probably one of favourite rugby memories. We went down to 14 men, we somehow beat Racing at home and we all got into huddle and if I could frame that picture I would have it. If it was the only thing I could have about rugby at home it would be that picture because it means a lot,” he said fondly.
While the majority of the George’s Saracens teammates who will be playing at the Principality on Saturday that experienced this will be donning a white shirt, a dragon lies among them.
Centre Nick Tompkins was part of this galvanised group of Saracens players in 2020 and has been named in the Wales squad this weekend who undoubtedly will be raring to go with an additional spark ignited.
Not least given the fact that their opponents are the much-loathed England, but the turmoil within the Welsh camp is thought by many to be something that will bring an enhanced sense of togetherness and cohesion.
“This is the sort of thing where if you were in the Wales camp you would be using that to motivate yourself as much as you can. We had experience of doing it, I just hope Nick Tompkins doesn’t tell them too much about the secrets of how we did it,” the 32-year-old said with a chuckle.
